Mitsubishi Outlander Ground Clearance: What To Know
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander by Gold Pony — CC BY 3.0
How important is the ground clearance of your vehicle or also known as ride height? It can be very important depending on what you plan on doing with your vehicle. Let’s take a look at Mitsubishi Outlander ground clearance: what to know.
It’s easy to see the difference between ride height on vehicles, especially if they are in different classes like a car vs. a truck or a crossover vs. an SUV. But when you’re looking at a vehicle at a dealership lined up against a bunch of vehicles from the same group, will you notice it? Will that unnoticeable difference affect your driving experience?
What is Ground Clearance/Ride Height?
Ground clearance is the measurement from the ground up to the lowest point of the vehicle. Sometimes the front is lower than the back on some vehicles, and sometimes the body of a vehicle is lower than the chassis, but whichever is closes to the ground outside of the tires is where the measuring starts.
The newer Mitsubishi Outlander has two different ground cleanses. The plug-in hybrid Outlander PHEV has a ground clearance of 7.3-inches, or 5.5 depending on who’s measuring it, where the gas-powered only Outlander has 8.5 inches of ground clearance. That’s quite a difference in ride height and might be enough to sway your decision in one direction or the other.
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How Could This Ground Clearance/Ride Height Affect You
On the one hand, saving gas money and getting in and out of your vehicle in everyday situations with ease might be a better fit for you. On the other hand, if heading out into the great outdoors and traveling back roads is one of the reasons you’re looking for a crossover as a vehicle, then a gas-powered Outlander might be the perfect fit for you.
What Benefits Can You Gain From Riding Slightly Higher in the Air?
The advantage you will gain from a better ground clearance is a better vantage point, not just for the driver but also for the passengers. This is also somewhat of a safety advantage for two reasons. Being able to see over cars can let you see what traffic is doing around you before something bad happens, and being higher in the air can help prevent serious injuries resulting from accidents.
Being higher in the air also gives you an advantage over rougher terrain. You may not be planning on going to the edge of the earth, but having a higher stance can get you through mud, gravel, deeper snow, and up steep hills easier. Plus, the extra clearance will help you protect very important parts under your vehicle. Important parts that can be punctured or broken under your Outlander, leaving it in a non-running condition.
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Raising or Lowering Your Mitsubishi Outlander Ground Clearance: What to Know
So let’s say even with the nice ground clearance the Mitsubishi Outlander offers, it’s still not enough for what you have planned for the crossover; what can you do?
You should first consult a professional with details about how high or low you want to go and the reason. This will give them an idea of the best route for you to achieve your goals. A simple tire size change might help you achieve your goal. But there are also lift kits, lowering kits, and leveling kits that can give you the ground clearance and the look you desire.
Don’t be that person who goes in on this type of project alone. You could run into big suspension problems if the right parts aren’t chosen and, even worse, installed improperly. Suspension upgrades can be fun, but they can also end up being a nightmare.
Disadvantages To Mitsubishi Outlander Ground Clearance: What to Know
For the gas-powered Mitsubishi Outlander, the ground clearance of 8.5-inches is really versatile. That gives you plenty of clearance to slip in and out of steep driveways without scraping the front clip, park the front-end over concrete parking blocks, and even do some two-tracking on trails without much worry of getting stuck. It’s not too high for entering and exiting and is a great height for kids and elderly alike to maneuver in and out of.
There is a slight drop down to 7.3-inches (5.5) of ground clearance for the PHEV Outlander. This should make for easy loading of cargo and other items, and people of all ages and sizes should have no problem getting in-and-out as well. Some cars that are lower to the ground provide an even lower drop as you sit in them; the Outlander PHEP still keeps you propped up even after you take your seat. This prevents a rough fall down to your seat and a rough time getting out.
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Who Are Outlander’s Competitors and What Is Their Ground Clearance?
Most of the Outlanders Competitors come in below the 8.5 ground clearance the Outlander crossover offers. Competitors like the Chevrolet Equinox, Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, and Nissan Rogue all come in around the 7.5 to 8.1-inches of ground clearance. But if there was ever a category where these vehicles would wind up as a toss-up, this would be that one.
How to Shop for a Vehicle With the Correct Ground Clearance
The most important thing to pay attention to when shopping for a vehicle is not so much how you fit the vehicle; it’s how well the vehicle fits you and your lifestyle. You don’t need a vehicle that you have to adjust to; you need a vehicle that is already well adjusted to you.
Here’s what to know about the Mitsubishi Outlander’s ground clearance and why we think this vehicle might be a great fit for you.
Since we already explained ride height and why it’s essential, we think the Outlander positions drivers and passengers in a vehicle that is easy to get in and out of without any problems. The height is perfect for car seats, not too hard for older people to access, and stuffing groceries in the cargo area shouldn’t be a problem for people of all sizes.
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